Interaction of a Nuclear Factor-1-like Protein with the Regulatory Region of the Human Polyomavirus JC Virus

DNA replication of human polyomavirus JC is stimulated by NF-I in vivo

Using a combination of Bal31 deletion mutagenesis and site-directed mutagenesis, we analyzed the sequence requirements for the DNA replication of the human neurotropic polyomavirus JC. In addition to defining the late side boundary of the viral core origin we demonstrated that the viral enhancer stimulates replication in vivo. Three regions within the viral enhancer increased the rate of replication, with sequences directly adjacent to the late side of the core origin exhibiting the strongest effect. These sequences interact with various cellular proteins, among them NF-I. Point mutations within the NF-I site abolished the stimulation of DNA replication concomitant with a strong reduction in NF-I binding. By contrast, point mutations which did not interfere with NF-I binding did not influence the rate of replication in vivo. Stimulation of JCV DNA replication could only be observed in vivo, but not in vitro, indicating a role of NF-I in determining chromatin structure.

A 53 kDa protein binds to the negative regulatory region of JC virus early promoter

Using gel retardation and photocrosslinking experiments, we have identified proteins of about 53 kDa in size in both rat glioma (C6) and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell extracts which bind to the negative regulatory region of JV virus (JCV) early promoter. The glial cell protein binds to its cognate promoter element with lesser affinity when compared to the protein present in HeLa cells. Further, these proteins interacted differentially to an oligonucleotide, containing the neighboring cis-acting domain, which is recognized by nuclear factor 1 (NF1). These findings suggest that the interactions of the 53 kDa HeLa protein may contribute to the negative regulation of JCV early promoter in HeLA cells.

Glial cells of the human developing brain and B cells of the immune system share a common DNA binding factor for recognition of the regulatory sequences of the human polyomavirus, JCV

Cells of the nervous system and the immune system perform highly specialized functions which reflect the tissue-specific regulation of their genes. However there are some functions between these two cell systems such as antigen presentation, cytokine release, and expression of MHC molecules which suggest a common mechanism for regulation of certain genes. We present data that extend this observation to include the recognition of specific neurotropic viral DNA sequences by glial cells and B cells. The experiments here provide evidence that both human glial cells and B cells possess nuclear DNA binding proteins that interact with nucleotide sequences on the regulatory region of the JC viral genome. These DNA binding proteins are present in human lymphoma B cell lines and fetal glial cultures. The fetal glial cultures are characterized as astrocytes by unique cDNA expression and the presence of GFAP. Data are also presented that demonstrate the presence of JCV infected B cells in brain tissue derived from progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy, the demyelinating disease caused by JCV infection. The possibility that the glial and B cell protein factor(s) responsible for recognition of the JCV genome belong to a family of proteins similar to known transcriptional control elements such as the Octamer binding proteins or Nuclear Factor-1 is discussed.

Identification of critical elements within the JC virus DNA replication origin

The T antigen of JC virus (JCV) does not interact productively with the simian virus 40 (SV40) origin of replication. In contrast, the SV40 T antigen does drive replication from the JCV origin as well as from its own. The basis for this restricted interaction was investigated by analyzing the structure of the JCV replication origin. The replication activities of JCV-SV40 hybrid origin plasmids were tested in cells constitutively producing either the JCV or SV40 T antigen. Results indicated that a region of the JCV origin critical for interaction with the JCV T antigen was positioned to the late side of the central palindrome of the putative core origin. A mutational analysis of this region indicated that the sequence of the A + T-rich tract was primarily responsible for determining the efficiency with which JCV can initiate replication from its origin. The tandemly repeated pentameric sequence AGGGA located proximal to the A + T-rich tract in the JCV enhancer element was found to stimulate JCV, but not SV40, T antigen-mediated replication. The effect on replication of other elements within the JCV enhancer was also dependent on the T antigen employed for initiation. A plasmid containing the replication origin of prototype BK virus was unable to replicate in cells containing JCV T antigen, again indicating the inflexibility of the JCV T antigen in interacting with heterologous origins.

A comparison of BKV, JCV, and SV 40 transcriptional enhancers in primate cells. Application of the two-phase partition assay for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT)

The activities of the transcriptional enhancers of the prototype human polyomaviruses, BKV (Dun) and JCV (MAD-1), were compared with that of the rhesus virus SV 40 in Old World African green monkey kidney cells (CV-1) and in New World owl monkey kidney cells (OMK). Enhancer activities were tested in CAT-expression plasmids. CAT activity in transfected cell extracts were measured by the novel two-phase partition assay. The activities of the BKV and JCV enhancers were 45% and 20% that of SV 40, respectively, in CV-1 cells. The effectiveness of each viral enhancer was less in OMK cells than in CV-1 cells, as would be expected if the viruses co-evolved with their natural hosts. In CV-1 cells, the BKV enhancer was more active than that of JCV, but in OMK cells the reverse was true. This result is significant in view of the fact that JCV, but not BKV, is oncogenic in owl monkeys.

Activity and enhancer binding factors for JC virus regulatory elements in differentiating embryonal carcinoma cells

We have studied cell-type-specific expression by JC virus (JCV) DNA regulatory sequences using embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells as a model system. In transient transfection assays, JCV enhancer demonstrated activity in retinoic acid-differentiated neuronal type cells but not in undifferentiated or DMSO-differentiated muscle type cells. To correlate in vivo activity with the binding of transcription factors, we performed DNasel footprinting experiments. Retinoic acid-treated EC cell extracts provided three completely protected regions, each containing sequences with homology to nuclear factor 1 (NF1) binding motifs and the partially protected TATA box. Oligonucleotide competition studies suggest that all three NF1 binding motifs are bound by the same factors but with different affinities and that there are cooperative interactions between NF1 proteins binding to adjacent regions. No protected region other than the partially protected TATA box was detected in undifferentiated and DMSO-differentiated EC cells in which JC regulatory sequences were not expressed.